Wire-stretcher



" P., J. 8v P. W. SOMMER.

` WIRE STRETGHER'.

(No Model.)

- '.1\I0.566,o3o. Patented Aug.1'8,1896.

j @@,3 023 TA l TM: Norms Penas co.4 Puoouwc.. msnmoron u c UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIOE.

PETER SOMMER, JOHN SOMMER, AND PETER w. SOMMER, OE TREMONT,

ILLINOIS.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 566,030, dated August v18, 1896.. Application filed January 19, 1895. Serial N0. 535,487. (No model.)

.To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that we, PETER SOMMER, JOHN SOMMER, and PETER W. SOMMER, citizens of the United States, residing at Tremont, in the county of Tazewell and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Stretchers; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in wire -stretchers by means of which a simple stretcher is provided, being. very efficient for the purpose designed.

More particularly, our invention relates to a stretcher pui-posed to engage a single wire for the purpose of taking up the slack therein, a series of said stretchers being employed for taking up the .slack in a fabric in which -a series of horizontal parallel line-wires are used, but each stretcher is operated independently and by separate means to draw up each longitudinal wire of the fabric.

Our invention consists, essentially, of a general frame part or standard, of a spindle suitably j ournaled to turn within the said standard and provided with projecting rims bearing between the parts of the standard that support the journals .of said spindle and provide a sort of spool in conjunction with lthe spindle to facilitate in the windin g of the wire upon the said spindle, one of the said rims being somewhat larger in circumference than the other and having the periphery thereof formed with ratchet-teeth, making, substantially, a ratchet-wheel of the said rim, an engaging link suitably pivoted in connection with the standard-framework and bearing in such position with relation to the said ratchetteeth upon the said rim as to traverse the separate teeth thereof when the spindle is being turned to draw up the wire and to engage the same to prevent backward turning when such winding of the said spindle is stopped, and ofcertain other details of construction hereinafter more particularly explained.

That our invention may b e more fully understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which* Figure 1 shows an elevation of our improved stretcher. Fig. 2 is a side View of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section showing details of the spindle and standard. Fig. 4 shows the particular application of the stretcher for operation.

In the iigures, A refers to the general framework Or standard, the base thereof being open and constructed substantially in a rectangular form and with a portion of the sides thereof bearing upwardly and being properly recessed to provide bearings for the spindle.

B is a spindle, which may be constructed with the central body perforated, as at d, lto provide for the passage of the end of a wire therethrough.

C is a rim extension from the spindle. is also a rim extension from the said spindle. The said rims, as shown, bear between the sides of the standard and provide such bearings as will prevent lateral movement of the spindle, and also provide, in conjunction with the body of the spindle, a sort of spool, between the rims of which and upon the central body portion thereof is designed to be wound a wire strand connected with the spindle by having the end thereof passed through the perforation d therein and then wrapped around the said spindle as it is turned.

The rim I) is somewhat larger than rim C,

and the periphery thereof is formed with ratchet-teeth thereon, as shown in the drawings.

ct is a link which maybe formed of a short piece of ordinary Wire and is purposed to be carried in connection with the standardframework in such a manner as to accommodate the free Inovement of the upper portion of the said link, its connection with the standard being. practically pivotal, it being purposed that said link shall be connected with the stretcher-framework at the point, as shown in the drawings, just above the ratchetwheel D of the spindle and in such a manner that the gravitatin g tendency thereof, when free to move, will cause the upper portion of the said link to bear upon the top edge of a portion of the standard-framework upon one side of the ratchet-wheel and upon the lug extension c on the opposite side of the said ratchet-wheel and the portion of the link between the said points engaging the ratchet-wheel, the relation between the saidV link 'and ratchet-wheel being such that when the spindle is turned to wind up the wire thereonthe said link will traverse the surface of the wheel moving freely up and down over the ratchet-teeth and when the winding of the spindle ceases will engage the'said-ratchetteeth or the one immediately adjacent to the link to prevent backward turning of the spindle. s

The manner of securing the stretcher to the post is particularly illustrated in Fig. 4, the upper portion of the said igure showing a cut section of a post revealing a transverse opening therethrough for the passage of the wire, it being purposed that the said stretcher shall be set so that the spindle thereof shall be on a line with the said opening and that the stretcher-framework shall be secured to the post bymeans of a screw or other suitable means, the lower portion of the figure illustrating the manner of turning of the spindle, the direction of such turning, and the manner of the engagement of the ratchet'- wheel by the link.

The application of the device for practical use is very simple. Vhen applied forstretching a single strand, the connection of the wire with the stretcherspindle is made, in the manner as previously explained, by pass# ing the end thereof through the perforation d therein and bending it in such a manner as to provide a firm connection thereof with the said spindle. Then by attaching the crank provided for connection withthe said spindle and turning the same the wire will be wrapped around the said spindle, this operation being continued until the wire is drawn with sufficient tension or the tension desired.

Then the stretcher is used in connection with a fencing fabric in which there are employed a series of horizontally parallel linewires, a series of said stretchers must be used, one with each of the said wires, the connection with the stretcherand the operation for drawing up the wire beingthe same as above described. All of the stretchers being located upon the same post and at intervals apart corresponding with the intervals between the strands of the fabric being drawn up, and all of the strands are drawn up and'held under suiii- Vcient tension to cause the same to bear prace tically in a horizontal line, which position of A the fabric will be maintained as the spindles of the stretchers are held securely from backward turning, and any relaxation in the fabric or sagging therein, occasioned by eXpansion of the material and attendant lengthening of the strands of the fabric, may be readily taken up by simply giving the spindle of each stretcher a few turns.

Having thus fully described our invention, whatwe claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*

In a wire-strand stretcher, the combination with the base A, havinga large opening in the bottom thereof and provided with the openings in the standard or side pieces to receive the spindle and with the lug c, of the spindle B, having the perforation d therein and provided with small rim O and a large rim D, having the peripheral ratchets, and the partiallink a, bearing across the full width of the base and pivoted in the sides of the base in such a manner that it will swing so as to bear upon the edges of the base and the lugv c thereon and engage the ratchets on rim D, and so that it may swing clear of the ratchetteeth, all substantially as described andl shown.

In testimony whereof we'afx our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

PETER SOMMER.

JOI-IN SOMMER. PETER W. SOMMER.

Vitnesses: l

NV. V. TEFFT, CHAs. W. LAl PORTE, 

